U.S. Accuses Russia Of “War Crime” After Attack On Ukrainian Nuclear Power Plant

U.S. Accuses Russia Of War Crime After Attack On Nuclear Power Plant

Russia’s attack on Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in Ukraine is a “war crime,” the U.S. embassy in Kyiv said on Friday. “It is a war crime to attack a nuclear power plant,” the embassy tweeted, after Russian forces reportedly seized control of the Zaporizhzhia power plant. 

The embassy added: “Putin’s shelling of Europe’s largest nuclear plant takes his reign of terror one step further” and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of nuclear terrorism. In addition to Zaporizhzhia, Russia has also seized the Chernobyl site.

The accusation by a U.S. entity goes a step further than previous criticisms of Russian aggression in Ukraine, which have alluded to, but stopped short of, explicit accusations of war crimes. Russia has been accused of using prohibited weapons like vacuum bombs and cluster munitions in Ukraine and of intentionally targeting civilians.

A fire broke out at the plant overnight Friday when a Russian projectile hit the complex, sparking fears of a nuclear incident and international condemnation. Three Ukrainian troops were killed and two security staff at the plant injured, according to Ukraine’s state nuclear company and the UN’s nuclear watchdog, which said the projectile did not hit a reactor and no radioactive material had been released. However, the situation “remains very challenging,” said International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi.

– Robert Hart

UN Human Rights Council Backs Probe Into Russian Invasion Of Ukraine

The United Nations Human Rights Council on Friday voted overwhelmingly to create a high-level investigation into alleged human rights violations committed during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Thirty-two out of the council’s 47 members backed the probe, which aims to hold responsible parties accountable if violations have occurred. Russia—which denies committing any human rights violations like targeting civilians in Ukraine—was one of two countries to vote against the investigation. Eritrea also voted against establishing the probe, and remaining countries including India, Kazakhstan, Sudan and Cuba, abstained. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the decision and said “Russian war criminals will be held accountable.”

States are elected to serve three year terms on the UNHRC by members of the UN’s General Assembly. The council’s inclusion of countries accused of human rights violations is controversial and widely criticized by Western governments. Russia is no exception and rights groups pointed to alleged war crimes before it was reelected in 2020. Russia’s membership on the council has become another flashpoint following its invasion of Ukraine, where it has been accused of targeting civilians, nuclear facilities and using prohibited weapons including cluster munitions and vacuum bombs. 

– Robert Hart

More Russian Banks To Be Removed From SWIFT In New Round Of EU Sanctions, Irish Minister Says

Ireland’s foreign minister Simon Coveney said the next salvo of EU sanctions will take “more Russian banks” out of SWIFT, a crucial part of the global financial system, according to RTE. Several Russian banks have already been cut off from SWIFT in earlier waves of sanctions and Coveney did not specify which banks are set to be barred. 

Coveney said the bloc will be “significantly adding” to its sanctions on Russia today, which are about “isolating” the country on the international stage, and he expects it will ban imports like steel, timber, aluminum and potentially even coal, noting the latter could have an impact on already volatile fuel prices in Europe. Russian flagged ships will also likely be banned from entering EU ports, Coveney added. 

“These are big decisions by the European Union that are going to have an impact on Ireland and EU countries,” Coveney said. “But they’re decisions that need to be taken to send very, very strong messages to Russia that this madness must stop.”

– Robert Hart

Attack On Ukrainian Nuclear Power Plant Demonstrates ‘Recklessness’ Of Putin’s War, NATO Chief Says

NATO Secretary General Jens Stontenberg on Friday condemned Russia’s “brutal” invasion of Ukraine and its attacks on civilians. He said Russian attacks on the Zaporizhzhia in Ukraine “demonstrates the recklessness of this war and the importance of ending it.” However, Stoltenberg stressed that NATO “is not part of the conflict,” despite support to Ukraine and “unprecedented” sanctions against Russia. “We don’t seek war, conflict with Russia…. NATO is a defensive alliance,” he said.

Speaking at the same press conference, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stressed that while NATO does not seek conflict, it is “ready for it… if conflict comes to us.” U.S. and European allies are set for a day of talks on Saturday.

– Robert Hart

IAEA Says ‘No Release’ Of Radioactive Material After Attack On Europe’s Largest Nuclear Plant

Attacks on Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant have not damaged any of the site’s six nuclear reactors and there has been no release of radioactive material, said International Atomic Energy Agency head Rafael Grossi at a press conference Friday. Five of the plant’s reactors are offline, Grossi added, with the remaining reactor operating at 60% capacity. Safety systems were “not affected at all” in the attack, which hit an “adjacent” building. Two security personnel died in the attack, Grossi said. 

Grossi added the situation is “fragile” and “unstable,” and offered to personally travel to Chernobyl, which is under the control of Russian forces, in order to speak with Russia and Ukraine. The agency head stressed the initiative is about ensuring the safety of nuclear operations and has “nothing to do” with the political situation between Russia and Ukraine as this is beyond the IAEA’s remit. “I am not a self-appointed mediator.” 

– Robert Hart

BBC, Radio Liberty Restricted In Russia

Russia’s censorship of the war intensified Friday after the country’s communications regulator blocked access to the BBC’s local website and Radio Liberty.

According to GlobalCheck, which tracks site outages and availability, Twitter and Facebook were also restricted in Russia as of Friday morning, while Radio Liberty reports that Google’s Play Store and Apple’s App Store were also blocked. 

The move comes a week after Russia partially blocked access to Facebook, citing a violation of “the rights and freedoms of Russian citizens” and accusing the platform of “censorship.”

Russia’s domestic coverage of the war is largely sanitized and independent broadcasters have been taken off air over the past week.

Russian state-backed channel RT came off air in the U.K. and EU Thursday and CNN reported the channel’s U.S. arm was shutting down the same day.

– Isabel Togoh

Stocks In Asia, Europe Drop

Stocks in Asia slid Friday and in pre-market trading in Europe as investors react to the ongoing impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index and Tokyo’s Nikkei were down more than 2%, while stocks in Shanghai fell almost 1%.

The drop comes after a blaze broke out at Europe’s largest nuclear plant in Zaporizhzhia, southeastern Ukraine, following shelling by Russian forces, but was later extinguished and no deaths were reported.

Benchmarks in London and across Europe were down around 2% in pre-market trading.

Moscow’s stock exchange will remain closed for a fifth day Friday. On Thursday, the Kremlin admitted that Russia’s economy was “experiencing serious blows” amid the impact of Western sanctions and as dozens of multinational firms pull out or halt operations in the country. Regulators in the U.S. along with the London Stock Exchange also halted trading with dozens of firms linked to Russia this week.

– Isabel Togoh

Fire Extinguished at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant, Ukraine Says

Emergency personnel have extinguished a fire that broke out at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant early Friday morning, with no casualties reported, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine announced on Facebook.

The fire was in a training building at the Zaporizhzhia plant, which is Ukraine’s largest nuclear power station. Ukrainian regulators told the International Atomic Energy Agency earlier Friday that radiation levels haven’t increased and the fire did not endanger any “essential” equipment.

The fire broke out after Russian forces began approaching the plant, with heavy fighting reported in a town just miles away from the facility. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Russia’s military was “firing from all sides upon Zaporizhzhia.” The nuclear plant is located along the Dnieper River in the country’s south, which has faced an onslaught of invading Russian forces in recent days. 

— Joe Walsh

Airbnb Halts Operations In Russia

Short-term apartment rental service Airbnb is “suspending all operations” in Russia and allied nation Belarus, CEO Brian Chesky tweeted Thursday, the latest company to pull out of the Russian market. Chesky didn’t offer any further details on the move; Forbes has reached out to Airbnb for comment.

Chesky has been outspoken about the humanitarian crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, offering earlier this week to house as many as 100,000 Ukrainian refugees free of charge. More than 1 million people fled Ukraine in the first week of Russia’s invasion, according to the United Nations.

Several other Western companies have distanced themselves from Russia over the last week, including petroleum giants BP and Shell. For more details on corporate responses to Russia’s invasion, click here.

— Joe Walsh

U.K. Calls For UN Security Council Meeting Over Ukrainian Nuclear Plant Fire

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will ask for an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting “in the coming hours,” after a fire broke out at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant amid heavy Russian fighting early Friday morning, Johnson’s office said.

Johnson says he spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about the “gravely concerning situation” at the power plant, and called on Russia to cease all attacks near the facility, echoing a similar message from U.S. President Joe Biden. The International Atomic Energy Agency says radiation levels haven’t increased since the fire began, citing Ukraine’s nuclear regulator, but warned fighting near the plant is extremely dangerous.

The UN Security Council has met to discuss Ukraine several times in recent weeks, but Russia is one of five Security Council members with the ability to veto resolutions, which limits the body’s ability to respond definitively to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Last week, a resolution calling for an end to the war failed after Russia wielded its veto power.

— Joe Walsh

Biden Urges Russia To Stop Fighting Near Ukrainian Nuclear Plant After Fire Breaks Out

U.S. President Joe Biden spoke on the phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy late Thursday night, as a fire broke out at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. In a readout, the White House said Biden “joined President Zelenskyy in urging Russia to cease its military activities in the area and allow firefighters and emergency responders to access the site.”

The fire began after Russian troops started fighting in a town just miles away from the Zaporizhzhia plant. The International Atomic Energy Agency said on Twitter that Ukraine’s nuclear regulator has reported “no change” in radiation levels, and the fire hasn’t impacted critical plant equipment, but an attack on one of the plant’s reactors could lead to “severe danger.”

U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm tweeted that American officials also haven’t observed elevated radiation levels, noting the Zaporizhzhia plant’s reactors are surrounded by “robust containment structures.”

— Joe Walsh

‘No Change’ In Radiation Levels After Fire Breaks Out At Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant, Ukraine Says

Ukraine’s nuclear regulator has observed “no change” in radiation levels after a fire broke out early Friday at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the International Atomic Energy Agency tweeted. The fire also hasn’t impacted “essential” equipment, Ukrainian officials told the IAEA.

The fire at Zaporizhzhia—the largest nuclear plant in Ukraine—was reported after Russian troops began fighting in the nearby town of Energodar. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted Russia is “firing from all sides upon Zaporizhzhia.”

The IAEA warned of “severe danger” if one of Zaporizhzhia’s nuclear reactors is hit, and called for an end to the use of force near the plant.

— Joe Walsh

Fire Reported At Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant As Russian Troops Approach

A fire has broken out at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant—Ukraine’s largest nuclear plant—amid intense fighting with nearby Russian forces, local and national officials said early Friday morning.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted Russia is “firing from all sides upon Zaporizhzhia,” causing a fire to start, and Dmytro Orlov—the mayor of nearby Energodar—confirmed the fire on social media, according to Reuters. Orlov and Kuleba didn’t offer further details on the extent of the fire.

Russian ground troops are fighting within several kilometers of the nuclear plant and are “moving directly towards” the site, Ukraine’s nuclear regulator told the International Atomic Energy Agency, a situation Ukrainian officials called “critical.” The IAEA said in a press release the Russian military “broke through the block-post” outside the town of Energodar, and fighting is now ongoing in the town and on the road to the nuclear plant. On Wednesday, a crowd of civilians had blocked Russian troops from entering Energodar.

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is the second-largest nuclear plant in Europe, and one of the 10 largest in the world, with six pressurized water reactors. Last week, Russian forces also captured Chernobyl, the site of a massive nuclear disaster in 1986.

U.S. Offers Temporary Immigration Protections To Ukrainians Amid Russian War

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security will offer Temporary Protected Status to Ukrainians who entered the United States by March 1, allowing them to temporarily remain in the country without fear of deportation, DHS said Thursday. The move comes as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has forced more than 1 million Ukrainians to flee their home country.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has also paused deportation flights to Ukraine, a spokesperson for the agency told Forbes earlier Thursday.

Temporary Protected Status allows people from countries devastated by wars or natural disasters to temporarily live and work in the United States, even after their current U.S. visa expires. TPS for Ukraine will last 18 months, DHS said, though the Biden Administration has the power to extend it. The Migration Policy Institute, a think tank, has reportedly estimated there are about 30,000 Ukrainians in the United States who are neither U.S. citizens or permanent residents, making them potentially eligible for Temporary Protected Status.

Deportations of Ukrainians are fairly unusual: ICE removed just 106 Ukrainian citizens from the United States in fiscal year 2020, a tiny share of the agency’s 185,884 total deportations that year. Some 125 Ukrainians were deported in 2019 and 105 were deported in 2018. 

A dozen other countries racked by conflict or natural disaster are currently designated for Temporary Protected Status, including Haiti and Syria.

— Joe Walsh

Kherson Days Away From Running Out Of Food, City Official Says

Kherson, the southern Ukraine city surrounded by Russian troops, is “maybe three, four days” away from running out of food and medicine, the secretary of the city council, Galina Luhova, told the Washington Post Thursday.

“We’re running out of medicines, we’re out of baby food, we are running out of diapers, and we are running out of first aid in hospitals,” Luhova told the Post by telephone.

The city requires a humanitarian corridor to allow civilians to safely evacuate the war-torn region, she said. Earlier in the day Ukrainian and Russian negotiators reached a tentative agreement to set up such corridors.

Another Kherson resident told CNN earlier Thursday the city is low on insulin as pharmacies are being looted by Russian troops and others.

On Wednesday, the city’s mayor, Ihor Kolykhaiev, said the city had already fallen to the Russians, and that Russian soldiers aimed to establish a military government despite President Vladimir Putin’s claims that he had no intention of occupying Ukraine. Neither the Pentagon nor the Ukrainian Defense Ministry could could definitively confirm that the city was under Russian control as of Thursday morning.

Kremlin-Controlled News Channel RT America Reportedly Shuts Down

The American affiliate of Russian-government funded cable news network RT is suspending its operations and laying off most staff, CNN and CNBC reported Thursday, citing an internal memo from RT America’s production company T&R Productions.

Forbes has reached out to RT for comment.

RT has sought to build a U.S. audience for years, partnering with familiar American personalities like Larry King, William Shatner and Ed Schultz. The network has faced criticism for pushing inaccurate pro-Kremlin narratives, particularly since Russia invaded Ukraine. In the last week, DirecTV promised to remove RT America from its channel lineup, YouTube prohibited RT from monetizing its content and the European Union banned RT outright.

— Joe Walsh

U.S. Pauses Deportations To Ukraine

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has “paused” deportation flights to Ukraine, an agency spokesperson told Forbes on Thursday, as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine imperils civilians and forces over 1 million Ukrainians to flee. 

“ICE will continue to monitor the ongoing situation and make operational changes as necessary,” the spokesperson said.

ICE removed just 106 Ukrainian citizens from the United States in fiscal year 2020, compared to 125 in 2019 and 105 in 2018. 

— Joe Walsh

Macron Says ‘Vital To Maintain Dialogue’ Even As Putin Refuses To Stop War In Ukraine

French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted Thursday afternoon he remains “fully determined” to continue to talk with Vladimir Putin after the Russian president told him Thursday morning he has no intention of halting his military offensive in Ukraine. 

“I will continue my efforts and contacts. We must avoid the worst,” Macron tweeted, while saying Putin “refused to stop attacks in Ukraine.”

According to the Washington Post, citing a French official, Macron was convinced after the 90-minute phone call that Putin intends for Russia to take over all of Ukraine, believing “the worst is yet to come.”

The Kremlin said in a statement Thursday that Putin informed the French president that Russia would keep up the war until Ukraine is completely demilitarized and it is certain “a threat to the Russian Federation will never emanate from its territory.”

— Nicholas Reimann

Russia Agrees To Allow ‘Humanitarian Corridors’—But No National Ceasefire In Ukraine

Russian and Ukrainian officials have reached a tentative agreement allowing residents of cities besieged by Russian forces to evacuate via “humanitarian corridors,” according to a Ukrainian official, which could involve temporary, local ceasefires.

Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted the tentative deal was made during a round of talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials on Thursday, though he added no agreement was made on Ukraine’s top priorities—a nationwide ceasefire and armistice.

“The results Ukraine needs are not yet achieved,” Podolyak tweeted.

Russian officials called the agreements very important, according to CNN, citing pool reports from Moscow.

The two sides reportedly agreed there will be a third round of talks.

— Nicholas Reimann

U.S. Says 90% Of Russian Forces Are Now In Ukraine As Troops Remain ‘Largely Stalled’ In The North

Russia has directed about 90% of the combat power it assembled for its invasion across the border and into Ukraine, a senior U.S. defense official said during a press briefing Thursday. Ukrainian cities to the north and east remain under heavy bombardment a week into the invasion, though Russian forces are “largely stalled” in northern Ukraine.

Here are additional updates from the senior defense official:

• More than 480 Russian missile launches have been fired since the war began, with the majority coming from inside Ukraine, followed by Russia (more than 160), Belarus (more than 70) and the Black Sea (less than 10).
• The Pentagon cannot independently verify reports that the city of Kherson is under Russian control, as both sides are “still fighting.”
• Russian forces are on the outskirts of Kyiv to the north and northwest, and the 40-mile military convoy remains stalled.
• The senior defense official said Russian troops appear to be trying to get to Kyiv “every single day” and are facing strong Ukrainian resistance, along with supply issues, as they intend to encircle the city.
• None of the Russian forces outside of Kyiv are closer than 25 kilometers, or about 15 miles, from the city.
• There is increasing bombardment in Chernihiv and Kharkiv, and there are indications Russian troops are “just outside the city” in Kharkiv.
• Russian forces are advancing on Mariupol from the north and from the coastline “with the apparent intention to isolate the city.”
• The airspace over Ukraine remains “contested,” and Ukrainian air defenses remain intact and effective.

— Anna Kaplan

Russia Reportedly Considering Public Executions To Break Ukrainian Morale

Russia has drafted plans to crush the morale of the Ukrainian people in captured cities that include imprisoning political opponents and potentially public executions, according to Bloomberg, which cites a European intelligence official.

Russian soldiers have faced stiff resistance from Ukrainian troops as well as civilians who have taken up arms. Civilians have also attempted to stop Russian advances through tactics like laying on the ground to block military vehicles.

— Nicholas Reimann

Lukoil, Russia’s Second-Biggest Company, Calls For Peace Talks

Russia’s second-largest company has requested peace talks to end the war in Ukraine, according to multiple reports.

Lukoil, which is led by Russian billionaire Vagit Alekperov, joined the calls for peace Thursday after boycott threats against its gas stations in the U.S., though most are owned by Americans as franchises.

The company’s London-listed stock has plummeted more than 99% since Russia invaded Ukraine last week. 

Alekperov’s net worth has declined to around $18.6 billion after peaking at nearly $25 billion last year, according to Forbes.

— Nicholas Reimann

Ukraine And Russia Begin Second Round Of Ceasefire Talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office said the second round of ceasefire talks with Russia began Thursday evening. Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Zelensky, said in a tweet the key issues include an “immediate ceasefire, armistice and humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civilians from destroyed or constantly shelled villages/cities.”

— Anna Kaplan

Mariupol Mayor Says Russian Forces Created ‘Humanitarian Disaster’ In City

The mayor of Mariupol, a city in southeastern Ukraine that is surrounded by Russian forces, said Russian soldiers had destroyed bridges and created a “blockade,” trapping women, children and the elderly in the city. “We are being destroyed as a nation,” Mayor Vadym Boychenko wrote in a Facebook post. “This is the genocide of the Ukrainian people.”

Boychenko said Russian troops “deliberately destroyed” the city’s infrastructure for the past seven days, and that the city is working to restore infrastructure capabilities. Boychenko also called on international groups to create a humanitarian corridor to help get supplies to the city to aid the “humanitarian disaster.”

A spokesperson for the Ukrainian National Guard told CNN the situation in Mariupol “remains difficult,” but stressed that “the Ukrainian military is not going to surrender the city.”

— Anna Kaplan

Biden Wants $10 Billion More In Aid For Ukraine, Report Says

The Biden administration will ask Congress to approve an additional $10 billion in aid for Ukraine, the Washington Post reports, citing two anonymous sources familiar with the plans. The $10 billion request aims to address the growing humanitarian crisis in the country, supporting Ukraine’s defenses, protecting the country’s electrical grid and assisting other European allies, the Post reports.

Lawmakers have been working in recent weeks to create a long-term deal to fund the government, as the spending bill is set to expire on March 11. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said there had been a “snag” over Ukraine assistance, claiming Democrats were trying to take the money from funds they had planned to allocate to the Pentagon.

The Post reports the Biden administration’s new request may alleviate these concerns, as the funding would come from new emergency aid for Ukraine, not repurposed dollars for the Department of Defense.

— Anna Kaplan

UN Nuclear Watchdog Urges Russia To Cease Action At Ukrainian Nuclear Sites

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) passed a resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Thursday and called on Russia to “immediately cease actions” at Ukrainian nuclear sites, according to AFP and Reuters. Twenty six countries on the board of the UN’s nuclear watchdog supported the resolution, five abstained (India, Pakistan, Senegal, Vietnam and South Africa) and two (Mexico and Burundi) were absent. Just two voted against the resolution: Russia and China.

The resolution comes amid reports Russian forces have surrounded Ukraine’s biggest nuclear plant—the largest in Europe—and a day after IAEA chief Rafael Grossi warned about the dangers of war around nuclear facilities. Russian forces have already taken control over the decommissioned Chernobyl power plant, the site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster.

– Robert Hart

Formula 1 Cuts Ties With Russia Grand Prix

Formula 1 on Thursday cut ties with the Russian Grand Prix a week after cancelling the race this year.

In a statement reported by the BBC, F1 said it cancelled its “contract with the Russian Grand Prix promoter meaning Russia will not have a race in the future.”

Read more about how the sports world has reacted to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

– Isabel Togoh

IKEA Halts Russia Operations

Furniture giant IKEA temporarily halted its Russia operations Thursday, including closing its shops and stopping its sourcing from the country, as well as Belarus.

A statement from the companies in charge of IKEA’s stores and supply, reported by Reuters, read: “The war has both a huge human impact and is resulting in serious disruptions to supply chain and trading conditions, which is why the company groups have decided to temporarily pause IKEA operations in Russia.”

Read more about the growing list of firms cutting ties with Russia.

— Isabel Togoh

London Stock Exchange Suspends Trading With Dozens Of Russia-Based Firms

The London Stock Exchange halted trading Tuesday with more Russian-based firms, including Gazprom and Sberbank.

A statement by the LSE read: “Further to recent sanctions in connection with events in Ukraine, in light of market conditions, and in order to maintain orderly markets, the London Stock Exchange has suspended the admission to trading of the instruments…with immediate effect.”

The move follows Sberbank’s exit from Europe on Tuesday and a barrage of Western sanctions against Russia that has cracked down on financial institutions, Putin allies and oligarchs.

— Isabel Togoh

French Government Seizes Yacht Linked To Rosneft Chief Igor Sechin

French authorities on Thursday seized a yacht they believe is linked to Russian oil baron Igor Sechin, a close ally of Vladimir Putin, in the port of La Ciotat. This seizure by France follows a similar move by German authorities, who seized a mega yacht owned by Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov on Wednesday.

According to the French finance ministry the yacht was owned by an entity of which Sechin had been identified as the main shareholder.

Read more here.

— Siladitya Ray

Russian And Belarusian Athletes Banned From Winter Paralympic Games

Russian and Belarusian athletes have been banned from the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games, the International Paralympic Committee announced Thursday. The move comes a day after the sporting body faced widespread criticism and threats of boycotts following it’s initial decision to allow athletes from those countries to compete under a neutral flag.

The number of athletes, teams and national Paralympic committees threatening to boycott the Games over Russian and Belarusian involvement was jeopardizing the “viability” of the Games, IPC president Andrew Parsons said in a statement explaining the u-turn.

The “situation in the athlete villages is escalating” and has become “untenable,” putting the IPC in a “unique and impossible position” close to the Games’ launch on Friday, Parsons added.

Read more here.

— Robert Hart

Biden Set To Meet Other Leaders Of The Quad Alliance Later Today

Leaders of the Indo-Pacific security alliance known as the Quad—including U.S. President Joe Biden—will hold a virtual meeting on Thursday, the group’s first meeting since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

A statement put out by the Indian Foreign Ministry noted that the leaders in the meeting will “exchange views and assessments about important developments in the Indo-Pacific,” with no mention of the Russia-Ukraine situation.

The Quad—which Beijing has referred to as Indo-Pacific NATO—is made up of the U.S., India, Australia and Japan and is seen as counterbalance against China.

On the issue of Russia, however, the groups appears to be divided with Japan and Australia backing the U.S. and NATO’s condemnation of the invasion of Ukraine, while India has chosen to remain on the sideline and has abstained from key votes on the issue in the U.N.

— Siladitya Ray

Oil Depot In Chernihiv Catches Fire After Being Struck By Shelling

Diesel tanks in an oil depot in the city of Chernihiv were hit by an airstrike on Thursday morning, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said in a post on Facebook.

The agency said it was still working to find out details of any casualties but noted that diesel tanks with a total capacity of 5,000 cubic meters have caught fire.

Photos shared by the agency showed massive clouds of thick black smoke billowing from a large tanker with firefighters at the scene.

— Siladitya Ray

Russia Column Outside Kyiv Has Made Very Little Progress, U.K. Defense Ministry Says

The Russian military’s massive convoy of soldiers, vehicles and weapons remain over 30 kilometers (18 miles) away from the center Kyiv and have made “little discernable progress” in the past three days, the U.K. Defense Ministry said in its daily intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine on Thursday.

The update claims that the Russian convoy continued to face “staunch Ukrainian resistance, mechanical breakdown and congestion.”

The update also notes that despite heavy Russian shelling the cities of Kharkiv, Chernihiv and Mariupol remain in Ukrainian hands.

— Siladitya Ray

Spotify Closes Russian Office, Blames ‘unprovoked attack on Ukraine’

Streaming giant Spotify shut down its Russian office indefinitely on Wednesday citing Moscow’s “unprovoked attack on Ukraine,” according to Reuters.

“Our first priority over the past week has been the safety of our employees and to ensure that Spotify continues to serve as an important source of global and regional news at a time when access to information is more important than ever,” Spotify said in a statement. The company also noted that it has reviewed thousands of pieces of content since the start of the war and has limited the discoverability of shows run by Russian state-affiliated media.

Spotify joins a growing list of tech companies that have taken action against Russia and its state-sponsored media following its invasion of Ukraine.

— Siladitya Ray

U.S. State Department Criticizes Russia’s Media Clampdown

The US State Department accused Moscow of launching a “full assault on media freedom and the truth” as various independent news outlets in Russia faced a government crackdown.

Earlier this week, the Russian Prosecutor General blocked access to two independent media outlets, Radio Ekho Moskvy and Dozhd TV, accusing them of reporting “false” information about the invasion. This followed moves by the communications regulator Roskomnadzor last week to restrict access to major social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

“The people of Russia did not choose this war. Putin did. They have a right to know about the death, suffering and destruction being inflicted by their government on the people of Ukraine. The people of Russia also have a right to know about the human costs of this senseless war to their own soldiers.”

– U.S. State Department Spokesperson Ned Price

The State Department called on Vladimir Putin and the Russian government to immediately “cease this bloodshed” and withdraw troops from Ukraine.

— Siladitya Ray

New Delhi Denies Russian Claims That Indian Students Are Being Held Hostage In Ukraine

The Indian government on Thursday denied a Russian allegation that Indian students stranded in Ukraine were being held hostages and used as “human shields” by the Ukrainian military.

On Wednesday, following a telephone conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Kremlin has issued a statement noting that Putin had warned Modi about Indians students being taken hostage.

On Thursday, however, Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi stated that India had not “received any reports of any hostage situation regarding any student.” Bagchi added that many Indian students were able to leave Kharkiv on Wednesday “with the cooperation of Ukrainian authorities.”

Earlier this week, shelling in Kharkiv claimed the life of one Indian student who had been standing in a queue to buy food. The student’s death led to widespread criticism of the Indian government by opposition politicians who accused it of failing to safely evacuate Indians from the war zone. According to New Delhi, more than 17,000 Indians have been evacuated from Ukraine as of Wednesday with a few thousand more remaining.

Despite its growing security partnership with the West, India has abstained from criticizing Russia’s invasion and has called for a diplomatic resolution to the situation. Amid growing tensions with its neighbor China both along its Himalayan mountain border and in the Indian Ocean, New Delhi has developed close security ties with the U.S. and its allies but still remains heavily reliant on Russian-made weaponry.

— Siladitya Ray

OSCE Monitoring Mission Member Killed In Kharkiv Shelling

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on Wednesday announced that a member of its monitoring mission in Ukraine was killed during the shelling of Kharkiv a day earlier.

The victim, Maryna Fenina, was killed while she was out to get supplies for her family.

“In Kharkiv and other cities and towns in Ukraine, missiles, shells and rockets are hitting residential buildings and town centers, killing and injuring innocent civilians – women, men and children alike,” the agency said in its statement.

The OSCE “strongly condemned” the increased shelling of urban centers and once against urged Russia to immediately cease hostilities and “engage in a meaningful dialogue.”

The OSCE monitoring mission in Ukraine, made up of civilians, was established in 2014 following Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

— Siladitya Ray

Moody’s And Fitch Downgrade Russia’s Debt To Junk

Credit rating agencies Moody’s Investors Service and Fitch Ratings both downgraded the Russian government’s debt to junk status Wednesday, following a similar move by Standard & Poors last week, as strict Western sanctions threaten to upend Russia’s economy.

Both companies announced six-notch decreases Wednesday: Moody’s downgraded Russia from Baa3 to B3, and Fitch moved Russia from BBB to B.

The agencies cited tight international sanctions on Russian firms, particularly the United States and its allies’ joint decision last weekend to cut some Russian banks out of the SWIFT financial messaging system and ban transactions with the Central Bank of Russia. The restrictions on the Central Bank “will have a much larger impact on Russia’s credit fundamentals than any previous sanctions” by effectively freezing a large share of Russia’s international reserves, Fitch said.

The sanctions have imperiled Russia’s economy. The value of the ruble plunged earlier this week, and an executive at financial firm MSCI told Reuters on Monday the Russian market is “uninvestable.” The Moscow Stock Exchange has remained closed this week.

— Joe Walsh

1 Million Refugees Have Fled Ukraine, UN Says

About 1 million people have fled Ukraine for neighboring countries since Russia began its invasion last week, the United Nations’ refugee agency estimated Wednesday, a massive exodus for a nation of about 44 million.

The UN estimates 4 million people could ultimately leave Ukraine, though that figure may turn out to be even higher, according to the Associated Press.

“For millions more, inside Ukraine, it’s time for guns to fall silent, so that life-saving humanitarian assistance can be provided,” UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi tweeted Wednesday afternoon.

Most refugees are crossing into neighboring countries to Ukraine’s west like Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary and Moldova. Poland says it is taking in 50,000 refugees every day, according to the BBC. Ukrainian officials have barred men ages 18 to 60 from leaving the country, part of a “general mobilization” as the country’s military and residents fight Russian troops.

Some African and Indian students say they’ve been subjected to racism while attempting to leave Ukraine, CNN reported. And racial discrimination has also been reported on the Polish side of the border, with right-wing nationalist groups harassing some refugees of color, ABC News reported.

— Mason Bissada

UN Verifies 227 Civilian Deaths In Ukraine—But Real Number Is Probably Far Higher

The United Nations has confirmed 227 civilian deaths and 525 civilian injuries in Ukraine from the start of Russia’s invasion until Tuesday, though it said the real number is likely “considerably higher,” as international monitors struggle to verify casualties in an active warzone.

The United Nations’ count includes 212 adult deaths and 15 child deaths, as well as 497 injured adults and 28 injured children. Most of these casualties were caused by artillery shelling, rocket launches and airstrikes, the United Nations said, as Russia ramps up its aerial attacks on cities like Kyiv.

The government’s casualty counts have been far higher. Ukraine’s emergency service said Wednesday approximately 2,000 civilians have died, according to several media outlets, though that figure hasn’t been independently verified.

— Joe Walsh

ICC Will Investigate Alleged War Crimes In Ukraine

The International Criminal Court will “immediately proceed” with an investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Ukraine, prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan announced Wednesday, after 39 countries referred the case to the Hague-based court.

The investigation will not only examine possible war crimes committed during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but will also look into crimes that may have been perpetrated during the conflict between the Ukrainian government and Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine starting in 2014.

Khan said Monday there is a “reasonable basis” to open an investigation into the situation in Ukraine, but he needed a referral from a party to the Rome Statute—the treaty that established the ICC—in order to begin his probe (Russia, Ukraine and the United States are not parties to the statute).

If the ICC decides to indict anybody for alleged war crimes, its ability to take legal action is somewhat limited, as the organization relies on individual countries to make arrests and transfer arrestees to its custody. Khan says the support of the international community will be “essential” to the investigation.

— Mason Bissada

Oracle, H&M, EA Sports Are Latest Companies To Cut Ties With Russia

Technology company Oracle said Wednesday it has “suspended all operations” in Russia, and clothing retailer H&M has paused sales in Russia, the latest companies to distance themselves from the Russian market following the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

Meanwhile, EA Sports is removing the Russian national soccer team and Russian club teams from its FIFA-branded video games, it announced Wednesday. Two days earlier, the real-life Russian national team and Russian club soccer teams were banned from competitions run by FIFA and the Union of European Football Associations “until further notice.”

For more details on corporate responses to Russia’s invasion, click here.

— Joe Walsh

U.S. Delivers Anti-Aircraft Stinger Missiles To Ukraine

The U.S. has delivered hundreds of anti-aircraft Stinger missiles to Ukraine over the past few days as part of the $350 million military aid package President Joe Biden promised last week, according to CNN.

The U.S. is sending weapons paid for through the Foreign Assistance Act, according to Reuters. Ukraine has also requested Javelin anti-tank weapons. The Pentagon told Reuters it would also be sending small arms, body armor, anti-armor and munitions to aid Ukrainian front-line personnel. The State Department said the U.S. has committed more than $1 billion in security assistance to Ukraine over the past year.

“It is another clear signal that the United States stands with the people of Ukraine as they defend their sovereign, courageous, and proud nation,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrote in a statement Saturday announcing the aid.

— Mason Bissada

Key Developments: Ukraine And Russia Plan To Meet Amid Intense Fighting, U.S. Cancels Missile Test

• Ukrainian negotiators are set to meet with a Russian delegation, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office told the Eastern European news outlet NEXTA Wednesday.
• Russian troops have taken control of the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, the New York Times reported Wednesday, citing Kherson’s mayor and a senior Ukrainian official, marking the first major city to fall to Russia since the invasion started last week.
• Russia has continued its aerial attacks on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, reportedly hitting a railway station Wednesday, but Russian ground forces are largely stalled north of Kyiv amid logistical problems and intense Ukrainian resistance, a senior U.S. defense official told reporters.
• Russia’s defense ministry announced via state-run media outlets Wednesday 498 troops have died and 1,597 have been injured in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, its first casualty update of the war—though Zelensky says nearly 6,000 Russian personnel have died.
• The United States has canceled an intercontinental ballistic missile test launch scheduled for this week to avoid escalating “heightened tensions” with Russia, Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby announced Wednesday, three days after Russia put its nuclear weapons on high alert.
• Senior Chinese officials asked Russia not to invade Ukraine until after the 2022 Olympics in Beijing ended on February 20, the New York Times reports, citing anonymous U.S. officials and an anonymous European official, who told the Times an intelligence report indicated the request came in early February.
• The United States has hit Belarus with the same export controls that Russia is now facing, after U.S. officials said Belarus—a key Russian ally—is “enabling” the invasion.

— Mason Bissada